After intently listening to the details "Thank you for the additional details, it certainly sounds fairly straightforward." I am not as familiar with the local however my friends maybe?" I would ask you allow us the time to digest your proposal and discuss if we can be of assistance." " What is your departure time and when would you need a decision?" head cocked in anticipation of a hearing his response.

”I am planning to leave tomorrow.,” Cleggor responds.  “The wagon is being loaded up at the Mirabar Shield and will be ready to go in two days.  I have an ox team at the stables to pull it.”  
He stands from the table, puts him flagon forward and then talks a long drink from it.  Wiping his beard, “My companions and I will be here for a while yet.  Let me know before I go.”

To Cleggor “We’ll met, we will provide you and answer before you leave”. Nods to him over his mug, takes another long drink, looks for the serving girl to request another round for the table.

As if Kragen had become a powerful Conjuror, a serving girl arrives with another round of drinks for the table.  She points to a group looking like sailors who tip their hats to you.

after discussing with the group, all of the pro's and con's provided, Kragen says to the group "I believe we have a quorum, i will order a round of Stouts for the Dwarves and let them know we accept their proposal." "I am pretty confident that the offer was for 50gp for the 4 days of work for the group." "Barring any unforeseen encounters, it should be pretty easy work." "I'll also confirm our mode of transportation back to Luskan once we have delivered the wagon train."

Barring any disagreements, i proceed to order another round of Stout's delivered to the Dwarves. When it is delivered, i make my way to their table. "Good sirs, Cleggor." nodding to Cleggor and acknowledging the remainder of the group. "We accept your offer and look forward to an uneventful partnership." "By chance, will there be any means of alternative modes of transport on the return other than by foot?" "Shall we meet the wagon train at the Mirabar Shield in two days time?"

Waits for Cleggor to provide further information, looking eager and intent.

“I will make arrangements for you to travel with the next trade caravan back to Luskan.  That shouldn’t be more than a few days in Shalecliff for you,” Cleggor smiles in agreement.  He spits into his hand and extends it to shake.

Kragen spits into his hand and shakes Cleggor with a smile on his face.

when Kragen returns to the group, he addresses all. “Prepare yourselves, we leave in 2 days.”

You continue drinking and enjoying the night.The news of your exploits seems to have spread as well.  Others come into the Dancing Dolphin to celebrate with the Heroes of the Dockside.  Several more rounds of drink are brought to your table.  In the haze of revelry and alcohol you remember seeing a wizard of the Arcane Brotherhood there with two guards.  A bottle of elven evermead is his tribute to you.  That was good.  Chadwick is particularly fond of that beverage.  It seems that Luskan was more on edge that was readily apparent about the disappearances.  The night becomes one of celebration.  Iolo dedicates his newest creation, Defeat of the Rat King to you and highlights your individual deeds of courage and derring-do to overcome his minions and rid the city of his scourge.  Following this rousing song of valor he joins you at your table to celebrate along with you.  Taruik and Jadeth are working hard through the late night to keep up with all of the revelry.  They are harried, but she is singing and Taurik is smiling with a gleam in his eye.  He gives you all a tip of the hat on a rare moment of pause.

Time to turn in. In the morning, Hoid will:

1. Look for a weapon smith that can silver weapons and inquire about the price to silver a quarter staff, battle axe and great axe (individual prices). 

2. Go shopping for things that shoot arrows (bows or crossbows). 

3. Look for someone to appraise and/or buy the belt buckle. 

4. Purchase 1 week of rations for the trip. 

On the morrow, Kragen will procure another 6 days worth of rations for the trip.

Erbert plans to purchase enough rations for the trip, but he seems disinterested in the guard duty for the wagon and mining equipment, seems to regard it as beneath him and his talents.  He is more intrigued by the puzzle and the odd script, he can’t let it go.  It’s rather annoying at the table that he keeps bringing it up while everyone else is celebrating, he sips from his mug and looks around the room periodically, but he has his journal out and can’t stop making notes about it.  Erbert’s insistence is a buzzkill.  Finally, when the group is about to put him in a head lock and give him noogies until he lets it go, the bard Iolo sits at the table and Erbert gets an idea in his head.  

”Iolo, have a look at this script, can you?  I’m having trouble putting it together, maybe a fresh set of eyes would help.  Do you know undercommon?  In your travels, do you know of anyone who might be able to decipher this?”

Iolo leans over to look at the scribbles in Erbert’s book.  He leans in close, squinting then spills his mug of wine a bit with a splash onto the page.  The paper has several spots of wine stain on it now.  “My goodness!  What powers of concentration are contained in such a small physique!  Look at the revelry swirling about you,” he laughs while talking.  “Put your book away and have another drink.”  He grabs a flagon from a passing serving girl with a wink and hands it to you.  “There is time for seriousness in the morning,” and takes a gulp of wine to finish the cup.  He looks into the bottom of the cup with sadness and the serving girl returns with a coy smile and another cup of wine for him.  Iolo immediately brightens and swings the girl off with a dance.  Looking back he mouths MAYBE-THE-AFTERNOON…..

Erbert is left sitting at the table with the wine stained page of the book in front of him.  It was clear Iolo heard him, and, he seemed to understand.  He wasn’t overtly mocking Erbert, but, poking fun at him.  It was all frustrating.  Like dealing with that pompous blowhole Sapos Poggleteggle while studying under Gilo.  Just because he was royalty and an older apprentice he felt he could insult the other apprentices and always assigned the worst tasks to Erbert.  “…hated that guy…” Erbert mumbles.

The revelry continues well into the night.  Taurik and Jadeth send the serving girls home.  For their own good.  Iolo seems despondent for about five minutes.  Eventually, the energy of the room dies out.  Many pass out there and wake the next morning regretting decisions made the night before.  You all find your rooms somehow and sleep it off in a bed.  "Breakfast" is served with the sun high in the sky the next day.  Taurik and Jadeth look spent, but happy.  Jadeth even greets the dwarves and gnomes with a smile and a mug of brewed coffee.  "We get this from Chult when the traders bring it up.  Serve it on special occasions."  You would believe that she was an alchemist handing out healing potions if you were told that was what you were drinking.

Iolo staggers down to the common room about the time you do.  Taurik brings him a mug of coffee as well.  He holds it briefly as Iolo reaches out to take it and gives the bard a stern look.  Solo looks to feign innocence and then thinks better of it.  "Not again, good sir," and Taurik releases the mug.  Iolo swoons at the taste of the restorative elixir.

He then finds his way over to Erbert and sits across from him.  "I remember you showing me some gibberish last night.  What was that about?," he asks between sips.

((Processed long rest.))

Erbert sits there the following morning, he had awoken at 8 am and began his day with a bowl of oatmeal.  The morning regimen.  Then the movement, like clockwork.  He sits back down at the table and he’s swirling his third cup of coffee when Iolo the Useless wanders over as he remains puzzling over the piece or parchment.  He looks up, and fixes him with a gaze that narrows, then gives up, pulling out his drawing in his journal and the parchment.  “Oh, just a puzzle that I can’t solve.  I was asking you last night if you know undercommon.  I think this is a puzzle in that language, I just can’t sort it out.  Are you skilled in puzzles and codes?  Or do you know anyone who can speak undercommon?”  He looks back up at him and meets his gaze, his facial expression being controlled to look nonchalant.  

In the morning Chadwick will work on the following.

1. Purchase two javelins
2. Six days of food (just in case)
3. Donate 5gp to local orphanage (assuming he was able to find out if there was one and where it was at).
4. Nurse a hangover and swear he's never drinking again.

(This assumes standard players handbook prices)

Iolo downs his mug and looks over the message:  He asks about how this turns into a language.  He listens as Erbert explains the letter translation.  A pen and parchment appear from seemingly nowhere.  “You never know when inspiration will strike,” he smiles.  Using the translation key provided by Erbert he writes out the new message.  Iolo produces a flute from one sleeve and looks to Erbert, “ Wish me luck.”

The bard plays a short tune on the flute and touches the parchment.  The letters seem to swim about and coalesce into a new message in Common.  “Who’s Craddock?,” he asks.

He rotates the parchment for Erbert to see:

Craddock, King Grol requires you

to travel to the city at the river mouth 

Set up a base.  Yemmick and his fangs 

will go with you.  Be discreet!

Shortly after, three dwarves walk into the common room.  They look about with an air of authority and the one in the center announces, "I am looking for the Heroes of the Wharf.  Are they here?"  Taurik looks over to the dwarves and nods in your direction.  The small group heads over to you.  "I am Dalkkar Ironhand, Quartermaster of the Mirabar Shield.  Cleggor Stonejaw made arrangements for you to pick up a wagon, ox team and supplies.  They will be ready tomorrow morning."  He then takes a less officious tone.  "I would also like to thank you for your recovery of our goods and breaking up the thieves' den who has been plaguing our caravans.  If I can assist you in any way, just ask."

Erbert has a look of relief on his face, he smiles for the first time in a couple of days, scribbling notes in his journal and beaming at Iolo.  “Of course!  The others will want to know.  He was a bastard, this Craddock, leading those goblins against us in the sewers.  I need to tell them.”  Right then the dwarves walk up, talking about ox and wagons and guard duty and so forth that doesn’t interest Erbert in the least.  He looks up at them and says “Fine, fine, fine, yes yes, will do.  Very helpful, thank you.”  He turns back to Iolo, saying “Thank you for your help!  I just couldn’t see it!  Brilliant… well, must be off!”  Erbert stands and rushes as fast as his little legs will carry him to tell all of the others of his findings.  

Iolo smiles across the table to Erbert and watches his burst of mania and abrupt departure to inform the others.  "He is a thinky one, for sure."  He raises his mug of coffee to the dwarves and continues to medicate his hungover condition.

Kragen to Dalkker “Well met Dalkkar Ironhand, I am Kragen Gravelbeard” “Thank you for the kind words, we were only serving Tyr’s justice to those who intend nefarious deeds” “we will be at the Mirabar Shield tomorrow am, I assume that this caravan will have drivers?” “Are there any other instructions that may be important?”

“Unfortunately the dens leader, a fellow that calls himself Craddock, was able to scurry away!” “However we would have interest in information that might provide us clues on how to find him?” “Where did they strike your caravans, what goods where they interested in, how many did they have when attacking, any uncommon types of bandits in their party, do they have individuals who have knowledge of arcane magic?” “Any other information you think is pertinent?”